Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 17



This elegant bird, although mentioned by several writers, is of great rarity. So seldom, indeed, is it seen in collections, that we never beheld a specimen prior to our visit to the Royal Museum of Paris, where our drawing was made. Buffon's description seems to have been transcribed by all succeeding writers; and the only figure hitherto published is that at Plate 724 of the Planches Enluminèes.

The habits of the Swallow tribe are known to every one. Like the Flycatchers, they feed upon insects captured on the wing; but these insects are of so small a size, that they are swallowed during the flight of the bird. This at once accounts for Swallows not being provided with those stiff bristles, for confining the struggles of their prey, which are so essential to the Flycatchers. These latter birds frequently feed upon insects much too large to be swallowed at the moment of capture; they therefore hold their prey until they again perch, and swallow it when at rest.

The figure is the size of life. Excepting the band on the body, and the spot on the thighs—both of which are snowy white—the whole plumage is of a deep black, richly glossed with dark blue. The first quill is longest, and the tail is deeply forked.

According to Buffon, this bird is sometimes seen perched on floating trees in the rivers of Guiana and Cayenne.